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Senior Citizen Politics
Senior Citizens Most Likely to be Confused by Health
Care Debate, Young Invincibles Quiet
One myth seniors can lay to rest: No proposal calls
for rationing health care for older Americans
 Sept. 11, 2009 - Invincibles, the "strong and
healthy young adults who have no experience with wallet-crippling
illness and feel they have no need for coverage," may be "the most
likely to be affected by the reform effort" outlined by President Barack
Obama on Wednesday,
The Baltimore Sun reports.
"Adults ages 18 to 34 comprise more than half of
the nation's uninsured. Under the various plans before Congress, they
would be required to get health insurance or face penalties if they
refuse."
Although young adults were among Obama's biggest
supporters in the presidential election, "they have been relatively
quiet about his quest for health reform despite the stakes involved."
"Insurance companies are hungry to sign up
invincibles: Premiums of young people who don't need much care mean
money that can be spent on those who do.
While some analysts say mandated insurance would
place financial burdens on the young and healthy, others say they would
be helped by proposals to subsidize those with lower incomes and to
allow them to be covered longer under their parents' health plans"
(Walker, Desmon and West, 9/11).
The Salt Lake Tribune concentrated on older Utahns' concerns:
"Senior citizens are the group most likely to
report they are confused about the various proposals and how the plans
might affect their Medicare health care coverage. ... But here is one
myth senior citizens can lay to rest: No proposal calls for rationing
health care for older Americans."
Obama offered reassurances on Wednesday, the
Tribune reported, saying rationing "'is a lie, plain and simple.'
What
some bills, sponsored by both Republicans and Democrats, do promote is
end-of-life care planning -- that is, discussions between physicians,
patients and their families about the kind of care they want to receive
when faced with a terminal illness" (Adams, 9/10).
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This
information was reprinted from
kaiserhealthnews.org with permission from the Henry J.
Kaiser Family Foundation. You can view the entire Kaiser
Daily Health Policy Report, search the archives and sign up
for email delivery. © Henry J. Kaiser Family Foundation. All
rights reserved. |
More links to news on health insurance reform:
Health Insurance: How Much More Should Older People
(Baby Boomers)
Pay?
 Lawmakers face balancing act - limit insurers to a small difference in premiums between older and younger people and younger ones likely
to pay far more than now; allow larger spread, and boomers may be priced
out of coverage. Seniors on Medicare not affected.
By Julie Appleby,
Aug. 31, 2009
Seniors
Health Care Bill of Rights Issued by Republican National Committee
News organizations are analyzing the health
reform challenges ahead for the President and suggesting direction
change after vacation
Aug.
24, 2009
Many Yelling at Town
Halls are Senior
Citizens Worried Health
Reform Will Hurt Instead Of Help
Democrats have a senior citizen problem, reports
Politico; also fighting full-blown myths -
attacks claiming reform would create government 'death panels'
authorizing euthanasia
Aug. 12, 2009
Senior Citizens Must Stand Up to Lies that Health
Reform Bill Will Allow Government to Kill Them
Right-wing stoops to new low in attacks on health
reform to protect profits of insurance companies
By Tucker Sutherland, editor & publisher,
SeniorJournal.com
Aug. 1, 2009
Senior Citizens Could See Better Access to Mental
Health Care in Reform Legislation
American Psychological Association applauds
Kennedy, Ros-Lehtinens Positive Aging Act Of 2009
July 14, 2009
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